if we have opportunity to do it, and there be no just cause to the contrary.

Q. Why on all Sundays?

A. In thanksgiving for the benefits of the week past, as also to sanctify the Lord's day.

Q. For what other reason?

A. In memory that the same Christ, who is offered upon the altar at the mass for our sins, was born, rose from the dead, and sent down the Holy Ghost on a Sunday.

Q. Why on all holydays?

A. Either in memory of some special benefit, or else for a commemoration of some peculiar saint, so to move ourselves to imitate his example.

Q. How prove you that the church hath power to ordain and command feasts?

A. First, by the example of the church in the apostles' time, which ordained the feast of Christmas in honour of the Nativity of Christ; Easter in honour of his Resurrection; Whitsuntide, in honour of the coming of the Holy Ghost, in tongues of fire.

Secondly, out of St. Clement, the disciple of St. Peter, in his eighth book of apostolical constitutious, where he witnesseth, "That the apostles gave order for the celebrating of St. Stephen's and some other of their fellow apostles' days after their deaths."

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Thirdly, out of 2 Thess. iii. 4. And we have confidence concerning you in the Lord, that the things which we command, you both do, and will do." And ver. 14. "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed."

Fourthly, out of 1 Thess. iv. 8, where St. Paul, (speaking of the precepts he had given his brethren,) saith, He that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his Holy Spirit in us." See what was said before in the third commandment of God.

The Second Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the second commandment of the church?
A. To fast Lent, Vigils commanded, Ember-days,

72 The Second Precept of the Church Expounded.

and with abstinence from flesh on Fridays and Saturdays. Q. Why Lent?

A. In imitation of Christ our Lord, who fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert for our sins, without once eating or drinking.

Q. Can we fast in this manner?

A. We cannot; but we must do at least what we are able.

Q. How prove you fasting to be a pious practice? A. By the example of Christ and his Saints, and out of Luke ii. 37, where we read, That Anna the prophetess departed not from the temple serving day and night by fasting and prayer."

Q. How prove you fasting to be meritorious?

A. Out of Matt. vi. 16, 17, 18. "And when you fast, be not sad, like the hypocrites; but anoint thy head, and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast, but to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee."

Q. How prove you abstinence from certain meats to be commendable?

A. Because it was prescribed by an angel to St. John. "He shall be great before the Lord, wine and cider he shall not drink," Luke i. 15. And in Matt. iii. 4, we read, "That his food was locusts and wild honey."

Q. For what is fasting available?

A. For the remission of sins and appeasing the wrath of God, according to that, "Be ye converted unto me in your whole heart, in fasting, weeping, and mourning," Joel ii. 12.

To mortify all the lustful desires of the flesh; and that it hath special force against the Devil: "This kind of devil (saith our Lord) can go out by nothing but by prayer and fasting," Mark ix. 29.

Q. Why Vigils?

A. To prepare ourselves for a devout keeping the feasts that follow.

Q. Why Ember-days?

A. Because on those days the church giveth Holy orders and ordaineth priests; and for that cause hath dedicated them to public prayers and fasting.

Q. What ground have you for that?

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A. Out of Acts xiii. 2, 3. And as they (the apostles) were ministering to our Lord, and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, Separate ye unto me Saul and Barnabas to the work whereto I have them: Then with fasting and praying, and imposing hands on them, they dismissed them."

Q. Why abstinence on Fridays?

A. In memory that Christ suffered for us upon a Friday; drinking gall and vinegar on the cross; but especially by custom, which is as good as law.

Q. Why abstinence on Saturdays?

A. To prepare ourselves for a devout keeping of the Sunday, as also in honour of the blessed Virgin Mary, who stood firm in faith on that day, the apostles themselves wavering.

The Third Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the third commandment of the church?
A. To confess our sins at least once a year.
Q. Why was that commanded?

A. Because otherwise, libertines would not have done it once in many years.

The Fourth Precept of the Church Expounded.

Q. WHAT is the fourth?

A. To receive the blessed Sacrament at least once a year, and that at Easter, or thereabouts.

Q. Why at Easter?

A. Because Christ instituted the blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist at his last supper, the Thursday before Easter day.

Q. Why is it said, or thereabouts?

A. Because it will satisfy the precept, if it be done at any time between Palm Sunday and Low-Sunday.

The Fifth Precept of the Church Expounded.

A. Because as they feed us spiritually, it is fit we should feed them corporally.

Q. How prove you that?

A. Out of Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is catechised in the word communicate to him that catechised him, in all his goods. And 1 Cor. ix. 13, 14. They that serve the altar participate with the altar, and so the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

The Sixth Precept of the Church Expounded. Q. WHAT is the sixth?

A. Not to solemnize marriage on times prohibited: that is, from the first Sunday of Advent, until Twelfth day be past, nor from Ash-Wednesday, until Low-Sunday be past.

Q. Why so?

A. Because those are times of special piety and penance, and should not therefore be spent in feasting, or carnal pleasures.

Q. What sin is it to break any of these church commandments?

A. A mortal sin of disobedience, according to that "He that will not hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen and a publican." Matt. xviii. 17.

CHAP. X.

The Counsel of Christ and his Church Expounded.
Q. How many counsels are there?

A. There be three principal ones.

Q. What is the first of them?

A. Voluntary poverty, which is observed by willingly leaving all things to follow Christ.

Q. How prove you that to be a work of perfection? A. Out of Matt. xix. 21. "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." Q. How prove you this to be meritorious?

A. Out of the same chap. ver. 27, 28, 29. "When Peter, answering, said to him: Behold, we have left.all

things, and have followed thee: what, therefore, shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred-fold, and shall possess life everlasting.'

The Second Counsel.

Q. WHAT is the second counsel?

A. Perpetual chastity; which is a voluntary abstaining from marriage, and all carnal pleasures, for the love of God.

Q. Is this also a work of perfection?

A. It is, for Christ himself was born of a virgin, and counselled virginity, though he commanded it not.

Q. How prove you that?

A. Out of Matt. xix. 12. "There be eunuchs, (said he,) which have made themselves so for the kingdom of heaven; he that can take let him take."

Q. How prove you that virginity is a more perfect state than marriage, or that it is lawful to vow virginity? A. Out of 1 Cor. vii. 37, 38. "He that hath determined in his heart, being settled, not having any necessity, but having power of his own will to keep his virgin, doth well; therefore he that joineth his virgin in marriage doth well, but he that joineth her not, doth better." Q. What other proof have you?

A. Out of 1 Tim. v. 5. "But she that is a widow indeed, (that is, a vowed widow,) and desolate, let her hope in God, and continue in prayer and supplications night and day." And ver. 11, 12. "But the younger widows avoid, for they, when they shall be wanton in Christ, will marry, having damnation, because they have made void their first faith, that is, their vow of chastity, according to the fourth council of Carthage, Canon 104, and all the Fathers."

Q. Who was the first that taught marriage to be better than virginity, and persuaded priests and nuns to marry?